This program will give you a real insight into the man behind the legends of THE LORD OF THE RINGS, and the people and places that shaped his unique literary genius. From the rolling English countryside to the sooty streets of Industrial Birmingham, the dreaming spires of Oxford to the World War I trenches of the blood soaked Somme; this is the story of the quintessential English College Professor who made epic mythology and legend accessible to one and all.

LEARN THESE AND MORE FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT TOLKIEN AND HIS INSPIRATIONS FOR HIS GREAT LITERARY WORKS : * The huge cult status of The Lord Of The Rings did not fully evolve until some years after Tolkien's death. * Gamgee (as in Sam Gamgee) came from a local word meaning cotton wool. * The inspiration for Gandolph was a postcard picturing a mountain spirit with a long white beard, wide-brimmed hat and long cloak. * Tolkien was inspired by Andrew Lang's The Red Fairy Book. * Greek and other mystical languages fascinated Tolkien, so he studied the history of linguistics while at Oxford. * One of his literary companions was C.S. Lewis, author of The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe.

COLOR - 60 MINUTES